Pope Francis has rebuked Vatican colleagues in a Christmas message, denouncing the “cancer” of cliques and how bureaucrats can become corrupted by ambition and vanity.

“Reforming Rome is like cleaning the Egyptian sphinxes with a toothbrush,” Francis told cardinals, bishops and priests who work for him on Thursday. “You need patience, dedication and delicacy.”

The pope acknowledged there were competent, loyal and even saintly people working in the Holy See. But others tasked with helping to reform the Vatican’s inefficient and outdated bureaucracy had shown themselves to be not up to the task.

When these people were “delicately” removed, Francis said, “they falsely declare themselves martyrs of the system, of an ‘uninformed pope’ or the ‘old guard’, when in fact they should have done a mea culpa.”

Since his election in 2013, Francis has sought to reform the Curia to bring the church’s hierarchy closer to its members, overhaul its finances and guide it out of the scandals that marked the pontificate of his predecessor, Benedict.

But he has encountered resistance, particularly as some departments have been closed, merged or streamlined.

On Thursday, Francis spoke of “traitors of trust” who had been tasked with reform but “let themselves be corrupted by ambition and vanity”.

Last June the Vatican’s first auditor general, Libero Milone, resigned suddenly, later saying he had been forced to step down because he had discovered irregularities. The Vatican said he had been spying on his superiors.

In July, in a shake-up of the Vatican administration, Francis replaced Catholicism’s top theologian, Cardinal Gerhard Müller, a conservative German cardinal who has been at odds with the pontiff’s vision of a more inclusive church.

This month Giulio Mattietti, the Vatican bank’s deputy director, was fired under circumstances that have not been explained.

At the time of Francis’s election, the Curia was stagnant and corrupt. The Vatican banks laundered cash, and sums of money changed hands in the process of creating saints. A blind eye was turned to bishops who colluded in or covered up child abuse.

In the past few years, Francis has made it a tradition to deliver a tough message to the Curia at Christmas, inviting the Vatican bureaucrats who help govern the Catholic church to a Jesuit-style examination of conscience before the new year.

FRANCIS - 15 AILMENTS OF THE CURIA:

1) “The sickness of considering oneself ‘immortal’, ‘immune’ or ‘indispensable’, neglecting the necessary and habitual controls. A Curia that is not self-critical, that does not stay up-to-date, that does not seek to better itself, is an ailing body. … It is the sickness of the rich fool who thinks he will live for all eternity, and of those who transform themselves into masters and believe themselves superior to others, rather than at their service”.

2) “‘Martha-ism’, or excessive industriousness; the sickness of those who immerse themselves in work, inevitably neglecting ‘the better part’ of sitting at Jesus’ feet. Therefore, Jesus required his disciples to rest a little, as neglecting the necessary rest leads to stress and agitation. Rest, once one who has brought his or her mission to a close, is a necessary duty and must be taken seriously: in spending a little time with relatives and respecting the holidays as a time for spiritual and physical replenishment, it is necessary to learn the teaching of Ecclesiastes, that ‘there is a time for everything’.”

3) “The sickness of mental and spiritual hardening: that of those who, along the way, lose their inner serenity, vivacity and boldness and conceal themselves behind paper, becoming working machines rather than men of God. … It is dangerous to lose the human sensibility necessary to be able to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice! It is the sickness of those who lose those sentiments that were present in Jesus Christ”.

4) “The ailment of excessive planning and functionalism: this is when the apostle plans everything in detail and believes that, by perfect planning things effectively progress, thus becoming a sort of accountant. … One falls prey to this sickness because it is easier and more convenient to settle into static and unchanging positions. Indeed, the Church shows herself to be faithful to the Holy Spirit to the extent that she does not seek to regulate or domesticate it. The Spirit is freshness, imagination and innovation”

5) “Sickness of poor coordination develops when the communion between members is lost, and the body loses its harmonious functionality and its temperance, becoming an orchestra of cacophony because the members do not collaborate and do not work with a spirit of communion or as a team.”

6) “Spiritual Alzheimer’s disease, or rather forgetfulness of the history of Salvation, of the personal history with the Lord, of the ‘first love’: this is a progressive decline of spiritual faculties, that over a period of time causes serious handicaps, making one incapable of carrying out certain activities autonomously, living in a state of absolute dependence on one’s own often imaginary views. We see this is those who have lost their recollection of their encounter with the Lord … in those who build walls around themselves and who increasingly transform into slaves to the idols they have sculpted with their own hands”.

7) “The ailment of rivalry and vainglory: when appearances, the colour of one’s robes, insignia and honours become the most important aim in life. … It is the disorder that leads us to become false men and women, living a false ‘mysticism’ and a false ‘quietism’.”

8) “Existential schizophrenia: the sickness of those who live a double life, fruit of the hypocrisy typical of the mediocre and the progressive spiritual emptiness that cannot be filled by degrees or academic honours. This ailment particularly afflicts those who, abandoning pastoral service, limit themselves to bureaucratic matters, thus losing contact with reality and with real people. They create a parallel world of their own, where they set aside everything they teach with severity to others and live a hidden, often dissolute life.”

9) “Chatter, grumbling and gossip: this is a serious illness that begins simply, often just in the form of having a chat, and takes people over, turning them into sowers of discord, like Satan, and in many cases cold-blooded murderers of the reputations of their colleagues and brethren. It is the sickness of the cowardly who, not having the courage to speak directly to the people involved, instead speak behind their backs”.

10) “The sickness of deifying leaders is typical of those who court their superiors, with the hope of receiving their benevolence. They are victims of careerism and opportunism, honouring people rather than God. They are people who experience service thinking only of what they might obtain and not of what they should give. They are mean, unhappy and inspired only by their fatal selfishness.”

11) “The disease of indifference towards others arises when each person thinks only of himself, and loses the sincerity and warmth of personal relationships. When the most expert does not put his knowledge to the service of less expert colleagues; when out of jealousy … one experiences joy in seeing another person instead of lifting him up or encouraging him.”

12) “The illness of the funereal face: or rather, that of the gruff and the grim, those who believe that in order to be serious it is necessary to paint their faces with melancholy and severity, and to treat others – especially those they consider inferior – with rigidity, hardness and arrogance. In reality, theatrical severity and sterile pessimism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity.”

13) “The disease of accumulation: when the apostle seeks to fill an existential emptiness of the heart by accumulating material goods, not out of necessity but simply to feel secure. … Accumulation only burdens and inexorably slows down our progress.”

14) “The ailment of closed circles: when belonging to a group becomes stronger than belonging to the Body and, in some situations, to Christ Himself. This sickness too may start from good intentions but, as time passes, enslaves members and becomes a ‘cancer’ that threatens the harmony of the Body and causes a great deal of harm – scandals – especially to our littlest brothers.”

15) The “disease of worldly profit and exhibitionism: when the apostle transforms his service into power, and his power into goods to obtain worldly profits or more power. This is the disease of those who seek insatiably to multiply their power and are therefore capable of slandering, defaming and discrediting others, even in newspapers and magazines, naturally in order to brag and to show they are more capable than others.”

PAT SAYS.

I'm sure the "Taliban Catholics" who visit this Blog will be amazed to see that my views and the views of Pope Francis converge when it comes to rottenness and corruption in The Vatican and the clerical church at large.

Francis, whatever his faults, lives in a virtual cesspool of power craziness, financial corruption, and sexual debauchery.

Whatever reform he has tried to bring about has been fought tooth and nail by the Disciples of the Dark One who are numerous in the Vatican.

I'm surprised they have not tried to murder him.

Maybe they will yet.

This darkness dribbles down from the Vatican to each country's conference of bishops, to each diocese, each bishop, and each cleric.

It takes a brave bishop or priest to stand up to these forces.

And that's why so few do.

The Pope himself says that the RC Institution is CORRUPT - and he is supposed to be infallible on matters of faith and doctrine!!!

I must say,it is very worrying that Cardinal Godfried Danneels appeared with Francis on the balcony the night of the papal election. Danneels was mired in sexual abuse cover ups in Belgium. I really do not understand this pope who appears to speak out of both sides of his mouth.

Was Danneels even an elector then or was over 80? He should have been in prison, not smirking on the balcony of St Peter's. Catholicism in Belgium is finished. Likewise in Honduras. During Maradiaga's time as a bishop Catholics have fallen from 90% of the population to 48%.

And the reason why the secular press won't pick up on this is because Francis and they have a shared agenda, ie modernise, reform, set aside the hard teachings. That's worked well for the Anglicans. Hasn't it?

@15.19 and 16.10I take great exception to your unfounded and slanderous statements about Pope Francis.. How dare you speak about the spiritual leader of our Church in that fashion!(Not that your silly notions are of any consequence, but still they shouldn't go unchallenged.)

So the 900,000 signatures of concerned people, the dubia of four cardinals, the elevating of pervert protectors such as Danneels, the destruction of the Pontifical academy for life, the confused mumbo jumbo of Amoris Laetitiae etc etc on top of all the totally undignified and insulting language that should never be used by a Pope are all unfounded 19:43? You can take exception all you want. I take my salvation far too seriously to be listening to this corrupt and bullying pope.

I agree, 20:19, an ordinary woman or man in the pews wouldn't come out with the chat favoured by Francis. Google "The Little Book of Pope Francis Insults". It's not a parody. A curate, PP or bishop speaking like that would be out on his ear.

Francis has no experience of lay personnel management. If you want things done, do not insult your staff, especially publicly.

When I read Pope Francis's message to Curia earlier, I guessed Pat would make claim to it and boast that His Holiness learns from him! Far from it Pat, those of us who work dedicatedly in ministry in the Catholic Church know that there is a rottenness that has to be weeded out. It's in all institutions. Pope Francis is challenging the culture of management/mismanagement. He is right to speak the truth. Hopefully his words will engender necessary renewal, change and Christ like service. Thankfully Pope Francis is a Pope of Mercy - and you, Pat, could seek to be likewise. No one listens to you, no one except a small cohort of disaffected malcontents. I trust Pope Francis's analysis and insights before yours anytime. To imply in your words that you are far ahead spiritually and doing God's will is, quite frankly, derisory and laughable. I pray that the Christ-Child will touch your impoverished vision and life this Christmas and inspire you to be a kinder human being. I am grateful for my fellow priests and religious, the ones who set ablaze many lives with God's love, mercy and compassion simply by the goodness and presence of their witness to Christ.

If, Pat, you believe Christmas to be a time of goodwill, love, gratitude and renewal in all kinds of ways, it would be enriching and encouraging if you began to let your heart be touched by Christ. Even enemies and those estranged from one another try to refrain from their hatred, enmity and hostilities. What thrill does it give you on the eve of Christmas to continue your trademark of insult, judgment and condemnation? We are all in need of healing within - including you. Perhaps if you took off that steel plated armoury from your heart, the light of Jesus just might get through! My Church is almost full every Sunday and Christmas Day will be a miracle with crowds. Instead of sneering and judgment I will be kind, welcoming and affirming towards all of them. I will, with God's grace, nourish all who celebrate with our community this Christmas. They will leave refreshed. You, Pat, enbellish on issues in a selish,self serving way.As I've asked many times - where are the luminous, sparkling, nourishing signs of Larne's version of Christianity?

Daily scandals Buckley are personified through your agenda - the scandal of hard hearted and self righteous judgment and condemnation in others for whom you have deep disdain and contempt. Your spiritual impoverishement is blinding but sadly, you are so consumed by "yourself" that the light of the Christ child will never get through. In fact - there's no room at the inn of your heart! Try being tolerant, mercuful, understanding and liloving - usually these virtues reap dividends....

09:31, as you rightly pointed out, we all are in need of healing. But before there is healing, there must be a thorough and honest examination of the patient; this can sometimes be unpleasant, even painful.

See Bishop Pat as the concerned physician. Your alarm is misplaced and unhelpful.

You really need to be more honest and grown-up about the awful nature of the *****, the institutional Roman Catholic Church. Both bishops Pat and Francis are.

9.56. Now Pat we know your true agenda. It's equivalent to throwig a bucket of manure on the face of Christ with all your judging, condemning etc....you possess no aesthetic beauty, within or without. Don't you believe in a redeeming, merciful and compassionate God? Why the need to be judge, jury and executioner? Brother - look deeply and honestly into your heart! You are like the Pharisees of old....Look at me - I'm not like the rest of them...Hypocrite.

Pat, would you for Heaven's sake refrain from writing your tedious lists which are meant to let us see how very virtuous you are compared to all other priests!"I am not the the D & C priest that did this, that and the other.

Wow! Pope Francis has definitely sized the situation well truly up. Many of us who have regularly defended him against loose criticism will be glad to see this. He is certainly a Pope for our time and the Jesuit end of the year examination of conscience is a rigorous one.

Why is the secular press ignoring a scandal Francis has known about for six months. His bestie Cardinal, who appeared with him on the loggia, is mired in financial, and, you've guessed it, strange goings on. Cardinal Maradiaga preached pauperism while being enriched. http://m.espresso.repubblica.it/inchieste/2017/12/21/news/35-thousand-euros-a-month-for-the-cardinal-the-new-scandal-that-shakes-the-vatican-1.316341

When he finished reading the inquiry drafted by the apostolic envoy he himself had sent to Honduras last May, Pope Francis’ hands went up to his skullcap. He had just found out that his friend and main councilor — powerful cardinal Oscar Maradiaga, a staunch supporter of a poor and pauperist Church and coordinator of the Council of Cardinals after he appointed him in 2013 — had received over the years from the Catholic University of Tegucigalpa around 41,600 US dollars a month, with an additional 64,200 dollars bonus in December. Bergoglio had yet to learn that several witnesses, both ecclesiastical and secular, were accusing Maradiaga of investments in some companies in London topping a 1,2 million dollars that later vanished into thin air.

The article said that Casaretto’s report also included accusations against Auxiliary Bishop Juan José Pineda of Tegucigalpa, alleging that he had “orchestrated reckless financial operations” and channeled Church money to friends, including the purchase of an apartment and car for a man close to Pineda.

Pineda has long been the subject of accusations of financial mismanagement, and rumors that he financially supports a male companion using archdiocesan funds. Some have alleged that he had an apartment built on the campus of the Catholic University of Honduras, in order to house this companion.

A Catholic missionary working in Honduras told ACI Prensa that Pineda’s situation is a source of scandal in the Honduran Church. The bishop “lives with an ‘aide,’ without any explanation by anyone,” the missionary said.

“Bishop Pinedo has bought him a downtown apartment and a car. The car, we fear, comes from the coffers of the university or the diocese. We have reported this unseemly relationship to the Vatican. The pope knows everything,” the missionary added.

Pat, while you spend inordinate amounts of time at computer, making mischief, the true priests are out visiting the sick & housebound, hours in confessional box,saying masses in Nursing Homes, preparing for and finalising liturgies for the huge crowds that will be welcomed home, you give yourself the luxury of pontificating, condemning and judging. It's not the work of Christ. Despicable behaviour at Christmas.

Pope agrees with Bishop Pat. Lol. A bit disingenuous. Your twisting things a tad Pat but amusingly. It reminds me of the old story of the C if I minister on Rathlin Island many years ago who during Sunday’s service would involk Gods grace and blessings on “ all the good people of Rathlin and the nearby islands of the United Kingdom and Ireland”. LolHappy Christmas everyone

Ha ha @ Dalriada D.! I get the joke completely! It reminded me of a tramp who used to call in at charity secondhand clothes shops and on the off chance of a handout, he used to take a navy blue button out of his pocket and show it to the shop owner, saying that he had "this button but needed a shirt to sew it to"!

(Sadie on the sofa).The boyo with the button? I mind him well always trying to cod somebody. I think he did a bit of door to door but he wasn't like the Avon lady going round with the crumply catalogue.

More details are emerging about strange goings on in Honduras. The auxiliary bishop to Cardinal Maradiaga has been spending over a million dollars on male friends, including Mike, a police chaplain, who has been celebrating the sacraments for years, despite not being ordained or even a Catholic. The troubleshooter from Rome was shocked.

And guess what's happened to the auxiliary bishop? He's been sent on a retreat with the Jesuits in Madrid.

The 15 ailments of the curia are colourful and a little 'in your face' so to speak. But I'm wondering why we haven't heard of this ground breaking bishop when he was in Argentina - presumably running a model diocese. Surely the same spiritual malaise that affects the curia also affects every diocese?